Modern Approaches to the Regionalization of Federal Policy in Russian Higher Education

Abstract

The significant differentiation and heterogeneity of Russian regional higher education systems requires a thoughtful federal policy which takes into account the peculiarities and unique features of the regional socio-economic situations. The research presented in the paper elaborates the rationale and basis for the “regionalization” of public policy in Russian higher education. Different approaches to the development of the regional higher education systems in Russia are explored in the paper. The analysis is based on the presupposition that the governance of the higher education systems should take into account regional socio-economic development priorities. The typology of regional higher education systems in Russia is presented in the paper. The consideration of the types in the context of the regional socio-economic situations allows authors to offer public policy mechanisms for the development of regional higher education systems in the context of the compliance with the objectives of regional development.

Keywords: regional higher education system, federal policy, development, typology, Russia

JEL Classification: I23, I28